IB COUNCIL APPROVES MORE FUNDS FOR STUDY

Engineers will do block-by-block analysis of Seacoast Drive commercial roadway

The Imperial Beach City Council approved additional funds April 17 to continue an aesthetics study on Seacoast Drive for street lighting design.

Council members approved $29,476 for the study, which will be conducted by Nasland Engineering. The firm updated the scope of its work, which increased the cost proposal from about $21,000.

In February, the council authorized the design of a test block between Date and Elm streets ﻿that included additional pedestrian lighting and palm tree “uplighting.”

The primary focus of the block-by-block evaluation that Nasland will conduct is to outline the potential for pedestrian scale lighting.

The firm’s design development of lighting options includes researching appropriate pedestrian lighting and palm uplight fixture options, consulting with lighting vendors to obtain sample lights, a site assessment and presentation of lighting options for council approval.

Councilman Ed Spriggs suggested a lighting demonstration be done to see what it would look like.

“Figuring out a lighting solution for each block on the street is going to be a challenge,” he said.

“The demonstration doesn’t have to be on Seacoast Drive or the test block,” Spriggs said. “What I’m asking for is a variety of options (solutions) that fit the entire street.”

During public comment, the majority of speakers supported the study.

“I just wanted to let you know how important the Seacoasters and a lot of the businesses along Seacoast Drive feel this is,” Imperial Beach resident Julia Simms said. “You’ll have an influx of visitors and tourists. We want to make an inviting environment for them.”

Imperial Beach business owner and resident Ron Rozok is a member of the Seacoasters, a group comprised of businesses and civic-minded residents.

“It’s just going to add to the hotel, to all the businesses on Seacoast,” Rozok said. “The lighting is really going to showcase our town.”

“There’s a beautiful light every 50 to 100 feet,” Quisenberry said. “It’s a waste and redundancy. How many times are we going to replace lights that work with lights that work?”

Quisenberry also reminded the council that it represents the entire city of Imperial Beach, not just the Seacoasters and businesses on Seacoast Drive.

“This would be a big mistake,” he said.

Spriggs said the study should create a more walkable community.

“What seems to be really important now is that we give them (Nasland) clear direction so they don’t spend a lot of time and money,” he said. “I honestly don’t think at this point that we want to be vague about the kind of elements that we need in the demonstration project.”

Spriggs said at least three types of lighting fixtures are needed in the ground.

“At least one of them ought to be solar-powered,” he said. “We also need to look at uplighting with a consistent theme up and down the street.”

Spriggs said the test block should represent the whole street.

Councilman Brian Bilbray cast the sole dissenting vote, saying he couldn’t vote for the city to spend more money while it told residents it has none to fund its Sports Park.

“We’re broke but we’re able to keep paying for studies on lighting...” Bilbray said. “Everything has its time and place and I do not think that this is the time or place to be talking about this.”